Competing values in software process improvement: an assumption analysis of CMM from an organizational culture perspective

The capability maturity model (CMM) approach to software process improvement is the most dominant paradigm of organizational change that software organizations implement. While some organizations have achieved various levels of success with the CMM, the vast majority have failed. In this paper, we investigate the assumptions about organizational culture embedded in the CMM models and we discuss their implications for software process improvement (SPI) initiatives. In this paper, we utilize the well-known competing values model to surface and analyze the assumptions underlying the CMM. Our analysis reveals contradictory sets of assumptions about organizational culture in the CMM approach. We believe that an understanding of these contradictions can help researchers address some of the difficulties that have been observed in implementing and institutionalizing SPI programs in organizations. Further, this research can help to open up a much-needed line of research that would examine the organization theory assumptions that underpin CMM. This type of research is important if CMM is to evolve as an effective organizational change paradigm for software organizations.     

Organizational learning in open-source software projects: an analysis of debugging data

This paper studies organizational learning effects in open-source programming projects. Working with data from the Apache and Mozilla projects, the study focuses on three aspects of open-source development. The first is the use of the open-source approach as a hedge against system complexity. The second is the adaptive learning mechanisms realized by the debugging process. The last is the learning curve effects of project-specific experience on bug cycle times. The results indicate that while open-source development is subject to positive learning effects, these effects are not universal, with some projects deriving more benefit than others.     

Angle of arrival estimation in a multi-antenna software defined radio system: impact of hardware and radio environment

Wireless Networks - Contemporary wireless communication transceivers can utilize their multiple antennas to improve positioning abilities. Angle of Arrival (AoA) estimation utilizes shifts in phase...     

The good, bad and ugly: distributed detection of a known signal in dependent Gaussian noise

Most results about quantized detection rely strongly on an assumption of independence among random variables. With this assumption removed, little is known. Thus, in this paper, Bayes-optimal binary quantization for the detection of a shift in mean in a pair of dependent Gaussian random variables is studied. This is arguably the simplest meaningful problem one could consider. If results and rules are to be found, they ought to make themselves plain in this problem. For certain problem parametrizations (meaning the signals and correlation coefficient), optimal quantization is achievable via a single threshold applied to each observation-the same as under independence. In other cases, one observation is best ignored or is quantized with two thresholds; neither behavior is seen under independence. Further, and again in distinction from the case of independence, it is seen that in certain situations, an XOR fusion rule is optimal, and in these cases, the implied decision rule is bizarre. The analysis is extended to the multivariate Gaussian problem.     

自动处方软件的开发及应用——以新生儿肠外营养开方软件为例

开发这款新生儿肠外营养(PN)开方软件是为了辅助临床医生根据不同新生儿的情况高效准确地制订肠外营养治疗方案。该软件通过归纳新生儿肠外营养处方涉及的药品,设置相应药品模板,自动产生PN处方和计算处方营养成分配比,标记超出参考范围的指标。该软件不仅为临床医生制订治疗方案提供依据,同时还提高了开方的准确性和效率,保证了新生儿监护病区肠外营养的用药安全。     

Political disagreement and ambivalence in new information environment: Exploring conditional indirect effects of partisan news use and heterogeneous discussion networks on SNSs on political participation

This study investigates the (de)mobilizing influences of political (dis)agreement in the news and in political discussion on political attitudes and participation in new information environments. Results demonstrate the mediating functions of political ambivalence in that exposure to proattitudinal news reduces ambivalence and thereby promotes political participation, whereas exposure to counter-attitudinal news increases ambivalence and thereby discourages participation. Importantly, the effect of exposure to counter-attitudinal news on ambivalence was moderated by heterogeneous discussion networks on social network sites, such that the combination of exposure to counter-attitudinal news and to heterogeneous discussion networks amplifies ambivalence additively, and thereby augments the tendency toward demobilization. These results are interpreted as suggesting that changing media contexts may lead to complex roles of news and political discussion.     

Supplier/user interfacing in the development and adoption of newhardware/software systems: a framework for research

A conceptual framework has been developed that identifies and maps different patterns of supplier/user interfacing in the development and adoption of new industrial products. This framework is applied to two empirical examples of computer-assisted-learning adoptions explored in a case-based field study. The supplier/user patterns suggest that there are many different potential relationships that can evolve, and that the management of these relationships can profoundly affect the adoption rates for these types of new technologies. The patterns identified in the examples provide the basis for identifying a series of important research questions in this management area     

Propagation in road tunnels: a statistical analysis of the field distribution and impact of the traffic

This paper presents a narrowband statistical analysis of the field distribution inside a road tunnel. Both fixed and mobile antennas are situated inside the tunnel and the transmitting frequency is 2.1 GHz. A theoretical propagation model based on the image theory is first used and the results are then compared to those obtained from experiments carried out either in an empty tunnel or in presence of traffic.     

Gender and age differences in employee decisions about new technology: an extension to the theory of planned behavior

This research extends the theory of planned behavior by incorporating gender and age as moderators of user perceptions and individual adoption and sustained use of technology in the workplace. Individual reactions and technology use behavior were studied over a six-month period among 342 workers being introduced to a new software technology application. While previous studies in the literature have reported gender or age differences separately, the pattern of results from the study reported here indicated that gender effects in individual adoption and use of technology differed based on age. Specifically, gender differences in technology perceptions became more pronounced among older workers, but a unisex pattern of results emerged among younger workers. The theory and empirical results are also discussed in relation to the widely employed technology acceptance model. The results from this study suggest that old stereotypes that portray "technology" as a male-oriented domain may be disappearing; particularly among younger workers. In light of these findings, theoretical implications for researchers and practical suggestions for managers are discussed.     

Scattering Coefficients of an Inductive Strip in a Finline: Theory and Experiment

This paper describes the application of the spectral-domain method to the computation of the scattering coefficients of an inductive strip in a millimeter-wave finline. Measured scattering data are compared with numerical data to establish the accuracy of the results. The predicted and measured responses of several finline resonators are also compared.     

人力资源管理在信息系统项目管理中的应用——以军事文艺文献数字图书馆建设为例

文章以军事文艺文献数字图书馆建设项目为例,结合作者实践,探讨了在人力资源管理中遇到的问题及解决方法。主要从规划人力资源管理、组建项目团队、建设项目团队、管理项目团队4个方面进行了阐述。最后,针对项目人力资源管理存在的不足,提出了今后的改进思路。     

The role of transformational leadership as a mediating variable in DeLone and McLean information system success model: The context of online learning usage in Yemen

Governments and higher education institutions around the world are placing online learning in their respective visions and policies as it has already transformed the way in which individuals learn, socialise and do business. Leadership is therefore increasingly playing a major role in the implementation and success of online learning goals. Although researchers have investigated adoption and usage of online learning in different settings, the mediation role of transformational leadership is yet to be examined using the Delone and Mclean IS success model. Data collected from 448 students in nine Yemeni public universities and the subsequent analysis employing structural equation modelling (SEM) via SmartPLS 3.0, revealed five main results: first, overall quality (system, information, and service quality) has a positive impact on transformational leadership; second, transformational leadership has a positive impact on actual usage; third, overall quality has an indirect positive effect on actual usage via transformational leadership; fourth, actual usage significantly affects user satisfaction and performance impact; and fifth, user satisfaction has a positive impact on student performance. The proposed model explains 61% of the variance in performance impact, and theoretical and practical implications are provided as well.     

信息技术与职业教育深度融合研究——以长沙民政职业技术学院“中小学网络联校”项目建设与应用为例

根据建设四化两型社会和数字湖南教育的总体要求,全面推进教育信息化建设,特别是以职业教育网络学习互动交流平台建设为依托,以云学习空间建设为载体,探索了校校有平台,人人有空间的信息化建设新模式。长沙民政职业技术学院作为国家示范性高职学院,带动和引领的4大区域板块的多所示范性中职学校教育信息化创新应用。通过创新运行模式、完善合作机制、共建教学团队、共享优质资源、改善硬件环境等,实现优质资源共建共享、教研活动同步互动、网络平台互联互通、教学团队互帮互长,达到示范性高职院校带动偏远中职学校共同进步,文章对信息技术与职业教育深度融合探索进行了研究。     

Element pattern of an axial dipole in a cylindrical phased array, Part II: Element design and experiments

The design and construction of a cylindrical array of axial dipoles is described. Dipole pattern amplitude measurements performed over practical scan and frequency ranges show excellent agreement with theoretically predicted results. Dipole pattern phase, feed line effects and radiator match are also discussed. These results provide strong evidence of the correctness of the analysis and numerical results presented in Part I of this paper, and furnish a firm basis for accurate prediction of array performance.     

Characterization of atherosclerotic plaques and mural thrombi with intravascular ultrasound elastography: a potential method evaluated in an aortic rabbit model and a human coronary artery

Plaque rupture is correlated with the plaque morphology, composition, mechanical properties, and with the blood pressure. Whereas the geometry can accurately be assessed with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging, intravascular elastography (IVE) is capable of extracting information on the plaque local mechanical properties and composition. This paper reports additional IVE validation data regarding reproducibility and potential to characterize atherosclerotic plaques and mural thrombi. In a first investigation, radio frequency (RF) data were acquired from the abdominal aorta of an atherosclerotic rabbit model. In a second investigation, IVUS RF data were recorded from the left coronary artery of a patient referred for angioplasty. In both cases, Galaxy IVUS scanners (Boston Scientific, Freemont, CA), equipped with 40 MHz Atlantis catheters, were used. Elastograms were computed using two methods, the Lagrangian speckle model estimator (LSME) and the scaling factor estimator (SFE). Corroborated with histology, the LSME and the SFE both clearly detected a soft thrombus attached to the vascular wall. Moreover, shear elastograms, only available with the LSME, confirmed the presence of the thrombus. Additionally, IVE was found reproducible with consistent elastograms between cardiac cycles (CCs). Regarding the human dataset, only the LSME was capable of identifying a plaque that presumably sheltered a lipid core. Whereas such an assumption could not be certified with histology, radial shear and tangential strain LSME elastograms enabled the same conclusion. It is worth emphasizing that this paper reports the first ever in vivo tangential strain elastogram with regards to vascular imaging, due to the LSME. It is concluded that the IVE was reproducible exhibiting consistent strain patterns between CCs. The IVE might provide a unique tool to assess coronary wall lesions.     

Investigation of standing-wave formation in a human skull for a clinical prototype of a large-aperture, transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) phased array: an experimental and simulation study

Standing-wave formation in an ex vivo human skull was investigated using a clinical prototype of a 30-cm diameter with 15-cm radius of curvature, low-frequency (230 kHz), hemispherical transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound phased array. Experimental and simulation studies were conducted with changing aperture size and f -number configurations of the phased array and qualitatively and quantitatively examined the acoustic pressure variation at the focus due to standing waves. The results demonstrated that the nodes and antinodes of standing wave produced by the small-aperture array were clearly seen at approximately every 3 mm. The effect of the standing wave became more pronounced as the focus was moved closer to skull base. However, a sharp focus was seen for the full array, and there was no such standing-wave pattern in the acoustic plane or near the skull base. This study showed that the fluctuation pressure amplitude would be greatly reduced by using a large-scale, hemispherical phased array with a low f-number.     

教育信息化背景下的高校实验室功能开发策略探析——以南京某高校计算机学院为例

据相关调查数据显示,当下多数高校实验室虽然一定程度上强化了教辅功能,但开发局限于传统的教学应用,对于其他影响因素嫁接不足,信息技术应用模式单一,创新性模式挖掘粗浅,技术改革及价值定位存有单维度发展趋势,发展模式保守、滞后且被动。文章以南京某高校实验室基本应用情况为研究基础,以探讨高校实验室开发通过多维度创新策略的是否具有可行性为研究重点,从而为英语教学质量的提高及实验室的功能拓展提供科学数据及发展思路。     

Computed SAR and thermal elevation in a 0.25-mm 2-D model of the human eye and head in response to an implanted retinal stimulator - part II: results

This is the second of a series of two papers on the thermal increase in the human eye and head in response to an implanted retinal stimulator. This paper provides specific absorption rates induced in the human head by the extraocular unit and the temperature increases associated with induced electromagnetic fields and power dissipation of the implanted microchip. Results are provided for different assumptions about choroid blood flow. It is shown that computed results associated with the power dissipation of the implanted microchip, corresponding to temperature increases of approximately 0.6/spl deg/C in the midvitreous of the eye and 0.2/spl deg/C in the retina, closely parallel in-vivo experimental results in animals.     

Computed SAR and thermal elevation in a 0.25-mm 2-D model of the human eye and head in response to an implanted retinal stimulator - part I: models and methods

Retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration lead to blindness through progressive loss of retinal photoreceptors. Attempts are under way to construct a visual prosthesis to recover a limited sense of vision for these patients with the aid of implantable electronic devices. The function of these microchips is to provide electrical stimulation to existing viable retinal tissues - living ganglion and bipolar cells - using an array of on-chip stimulus circuits, while the dominant mechanism for power and data communication for these implanted devices has been wireless inductive telemetry using coils. This paper describes methods and models used to estimate the heating induced in the human eye and surrounding head tissues subject to the operation of this retinal prosthesis. A two-dimensional 0.25-mm high-resolution human head model has been developed with the aid of a new semiautomatic graphical segmentation algorithm. Finite-difference-based numerical methods for both electromagnetic and thermal modeling have been used to determine the influence of the specific absorption rate (associated with 2-MHz inductive coupling to the implant) and of stimulator integrated circuit (IC) power on tissue heating under different operational conditions and different hypothesis on choroidal blood flow and properties of the complex implanted circuitry. Results, provided in Part II of this paper, show that temperature increases of approximately 0.6 and 0.4/spl deg/C are induced in the midvitreous of the human eye in the absence and presence of choroidal blood flow, respectively, for a 60-electrode retinal prosthesis chip. Correspondent temperature rises of approximately 0.19 and 0.004/spl deg/C on the retina are obtained for these cases. Comparison with in vivo experimental measurements on intraocular heating in dog eyes shows good agreement.     

Determining the temperature distribution of a model vessel wall under pulsed laser irradiation: an experimental attempt to measure fibrous cap thickness and detect temperature elevation in atherosclerotic lesions

In order to measure the temperature of atherosclerotic plaques, the authors developed a method to determine the temperature distribution of vessel walls using a three-layer phantom agar model. Under pulsed-laser irradiation, the thickness of upper layer corresponding to fibrous cap overlying the middle layer corresponding to atherosclerotic lesion could be calculated. The temperature was calculated from measured temperature changes under pulsed-laser irradiation